SPIRITS

In case you missed it, The World's 50 Best Bars announced their picks Thursday for 2014, giving you the pub crawl to end all pub crawls. Put on by Drinks International, the winners were chosen by over 330 industry professionals and includes bars from 14 different counties, with the top 10 dominated by London and New York. In fact, North America made up for 16 of the overall 50, with four landing at the top of the list. Check out the top 10 below and see if your favorite made the cut!

If you’re planning a night in with some homemade Italian food, you’re going to want to visit an Italian market for the most authentic gourmet ingredients and sides. And although Los Angeles isn’t known for having a large Italian population like those found in New York or New Jersey, the City of Angels has some great purveyors of Italian flavors.

The Macallan, known for their luxury range of single malt Scotch whisky, has just announced the addition of the new Rare Cask to their core range of expressions. Offering a "splendidly rich and resonant ruby hue," the whisky sits in handpicked, Spanish oak sherry seasoned casks until it is ready to be bottled in a sturdy glass decanter.

With craft beer booming, everyone wants to be a home brewer nowadays, but actually doing it can be more of a commitment than you're prepared for—it's scientific, complicated, and requires a lot of patience and training to do right. If you would prefer just skipping all of the training and spending your time coming up with funny brew names based on your favorite yoga pose or Beyoncé song instead, the Brewbot is where you need to turn.

Every country has a drink they're known for, especially when it's something that has become synonymous with the country's name (like Guinness and Ireland, or sake and Japan). But there are some drinks out there that you may not be as aware of, like slivovitz or țuică (as well as a non-alcoholic communal beverage of Fiji). Some locals drink and some are more tourist-run, but they're all popular staples of the following 12 countries.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label announced their upcoming short film starring Jude Law, The Gentleman's Wager, by releasing a teaser clip. Directed by Jake Scott and also starring Giancarlo Giannini (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace), the film follows a wager between "two men striving for personal progress through the quest for a truly rare experience."

For anyone who loves experimenting with new recipes, either on the plate or in the glass, there are fewer things more fun than discovering a slew of new cocktails to try out — even better if actor Robert De Niro is attached to them. As a way to celebrate the United States launch of VDKA 6100 (that's read as "vodka," in case you were wondering), which premiered in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey earlier in the month, the brand shared eight recipes that promise a "twist of tomorrow."

Most apps are pretty forgettable, but CellarPass is one you should definitely check out if you're a self-professed wino. The web- and app-based service makes it super easy to check out new wineries and artisanal distilleries while you're traveling, offering an online tasting room, food and wine event searches, and reservation and ticketing service.

A rum to sip and savor, Facundo's Paraiso is much more than a mere libation and you wouldn't dare mix this with cola — it's an experience unto itself. Straight from the private reserves of the Bacardi family, the Facundo line of rums is considered to be the best to ever be released by the company. In fact, Paraiso itself is at the top of the collection.

Founded in 1691 in Schiedam, Holland, Ketel One distillery still stands as a monument today. Much expanded since its humble beginnings, the waterfront structures were ideally placed for grain trade, and remain a scenic location and destination. Complete with distillery, bottling, shipping, and storage facilities, the encampment is also home to an art gallery and rooftop bar. Several historic pieces are on display throughout the Ketel One property, with everything from original bottles to recent memorabilia exhibited.

With the explosion of craft cocktails and beer, people are expecting more from their liquor. Sure, it used to be acceptable to choke down whatever was cheapest and on offer, but not anymore. We want liquor from a brand that we like. We want the story and the hipster cool factor that comes with drinking something we know a little bit about. Several grassroots companies have found footing in this new era of drinking awareness, and Montalvo Tequila is one such brand. Not only it is a small powerhouse, it also presents a new kind of tequila, one that is triple distilled so you can sip it slowly, like you would with a fine whiskey or brandy.

The Manhattan Cocktail Classic, which was held in May for its fifth time this year, is more than just an opportunity for spirits brands and cocktail experts from around the world to mingle in the Big Apple. The event is also an ideal place to check out cocktail trends on the horizon and see what’s in store for summer sips. Here are some delicious ideas from MCC experts and others we trust!

It seems like a new craft cocktail bar opens every weekend, with mixologists scrambling to create the next coolest drink. As much as we love innovation, sometimes you really can't beat the tried and true mixed drinks that have been around forever. Besides, most of the new guys are just modern variations of what our grandparents drank with breakfast.

The 2014 Kentucky Derby is in full swing and if you're not lucky enough to be there this weekend, you're seriously missing out. This year's event has a lot going on, from the anticipation surrounding pre-race favorite California Chrome to all of the parties (and the hats), and we're sure it hurts a little not being part of it.

The 100-year-old BenRiach Distillery has remained one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets, known only to whisky connoisseurs who came across its unique blend produced in the Heart of Speyside. But that’s so 1898. Fast forward to 2014, the year BenRiach opened its cask vaults to introduce four new limited releases to the U.S. market: The BenRiach Horizons 12 Year Old Triple Distilled, The BenRiach Solstice 2nd Edition 17-Year-Old, The BenRiach Septendecim 17-Year-Old Peated Single Malt, and The BenRiach Authenticus 25-Year-Old Peated Single Malt. The secret is out, and the awards have started rolling in.

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